Afghanistan has surprised the cricket world after showing a promising display in modern-era cricket. The side is underdogs in matches against the big sides. However, the performances of Afghanistan in T20 International Cricket have changed the perception of cricket fans. It seems Afghanistan, The Cricket Warriors, have arrived to give a fight to the Asian giants like India and Pakistan in Asia Cup 2022. The Afghanistan side comprises the top-notch T20 cricketers in the side. They are capable of producing match-winning performances for their team against any opposition. Moreover, the fighting spirit of the Afghanistan team is commendable. It has performed spectacularly in the first round of Asia Cup 2022. Afghanistan defeated Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in the first round of the Asia Cup 2022. Therefore Afghanistan has a high percentage of chances of winning the tournament.
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Why Afghanistan is a Dangerous T20 Team?
In less time, the Afghanistan T20 team announced its arrival in international cricket with its spectacular display on the field. The team has the services of a marvel who have the exposure of playing all major T20 leagues like the Indian Premier League, Big Bash League and Pakistan Super League. Whenever the draft of the T20 leagues is organized, the players like Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan are favourites of the teams. More talented cricketers are coming to the squad of Afghanistan who is making a mark in T20 cricket.
The opening batsmen of Afghanistan are destructive hard-hitters who hit spectacularly against the bowlers. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Hazratullah Zazai play astonishing shots fearlessly in the opening overs. If both make an impact in the powerplay overs, Afghanistan ends up scoring high in the innings. Number three of the Afghanistan T20 team is Ibrahim Zadran who is a reliable middle-order batsman. By the way, we could never rule out a player like Najeeb Ullah Zadran who is a spectacular striker of the cricket ball. On many occasions when Afghanistan needed runs with a high scoring rate in the death overs, Zadran stood up by smashing the ball all around the park.
Mohammad Nabi provides terrific balance to the team. The importance of Mohammad Nabi in the side of Afghanistan team is no less than Jacques Kallis of the old South African side. Not only he can strike it hard in crucial circumstances but is capable of providing a breakthrough when the bowling side is finding it hard to take a wicket. His presence in the team makes Afghanistan a spectacular T20 International side in the Asia Cup 2022.
Overcoming The Weakness in Fast-Bowling Department
Indeed, Afghanistan has one of the best spin attacks in the world. The trio of Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb ur Rehman and Rashid Khan troubles the best batsmen in the circuit. In the powerplay overs, Mujeeb does not allow batsmen to settle their feet on the crease. In the same way, Nabi and Rashid keep the batting run rate on the lower side with their terrific varieties. What is the only problem which the bowling attack of Afghanistan despite the presence of spin-bowling marvels in the team? The pacers in the team. To rectify this issue, Afghanistan has brought veteran T20 pacer Umar Gul into its dugout.
Since the inclusion of Gul in the coaching panel of Afghanistan, we are witnessing a new shape in the bowling attack of Afghanistan in Asia Cup 2022. The classic inswingers of Fazal Haq Farooqui are troubling the batsmen in the powerplay overs. Furthermore, the testing varieties of Naveen ul Haq are no less difficult for the batsmen to face in the powerplay overs. Hence Afghanistan has become a dangerous T20 side after strengthening its bowling line-up.
Performance of Afghanistan in Asia Cup 2022
Never underestimate the underdogs in any sporting competition in the world. We learned this fact of life when the host Russia eliminated Spain from the Football World Cup 2018. When Afghanistan entered the competition, there was a shadow of doubt regarding the composition of its team. Despite many astonishing T20 cricketers on the side, fans felt that Afghanistan do not have the nerves of performing in the big tournament. The performance against Ireland in recent times escalated the doubts. But Afghanistan has arrived in the tournament while clearing all the doubt of the cricket experts.
In the first fixture against Sri Lanka at Dubai International Stadium, Afghanistan defeated Sri Lanka comprehensively by 8 wickets. It got Sri Lanka all out only on the score of 105 runs. In another first-round fixture, which was against Bangladesh, Afghanistan performed spectacularly well. Afghanistan topped the group after defeating Bangladesh by 7 wickets after restricting the opposition to only 127 runs at Sharjah. Super Four is a tremendously critical phase of the tournament. Afghanistan needs to carry its form in the next round to strengthen its chances of winning the Asia Cup 2022.
Although, do you want to find out which team has the highest number of chances of winning the Asia Cup 2022? What could be the position of Afghanistan in Asia Cup 2022 in terms of odds? You might want this information. If yes, then you could go to the best online cricket news sites in the UK to know the numbers.
Can Afghanistan Win Asia Cup 2022?
The game of cricket will surely love the new winners. The competition of Asia Cup has been won by three times thus far. India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan have been able to win the tournament. Afghanistan will like to enter the company of the winners. It has the required package of winning the Asia Cup 2022. For me, the trump card of Afghanistan is Rashid Khan. The pitches of the United Arab Emirates are spin friendly.
If batsmen put a good total on the scoreboard, the responsibility is on Rashid Khan to showcase his spectacular skillset on the field. Especially in Sharjah, where Afghanistan vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2022 contest will be played, Khan should eye to destroy the fragile middle-order of the Pakistan team. Not only in bowling, but Rashid can play a significant role with the bat for Afghanistan in Asia Cup. We don’t know yet which team will qualify for the final. However, Afghanistan is expected to put a spectacular fight for the other teams in the Super Four round. The exciting contests are awaiting us for sure!
